U.S. patent application number 12/531751 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-27 for casing wall for an apparatus.
Invention is credited to Hutch Hutchison, Caroline Millar.
Application Number | 20100127605 12/531751 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38008666 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100127605 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hutchison; Hutch ; et
al. |
May 27, 2010 |
CASING WALL FOR AN APPARATUS
Abstract
A casing wall for an apparatus, the casing wall comprising
including a chassis and casing wall elements integrated into the
chassis, the casing wall elements each including a surface exposed
to a user, the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated
casing wall elements to provide structural rigidity to the casing
wall.
Inventors: |
Hutchison; Hutch; (Churt
Surrey, GB) ; Millar; Caroline; (Bramley,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARRINGTON & SMITH
4 RESEARCH DRIVE, Suite 202
SHELTON
CT
06484-6212
US
|
Family ID: |
38008666 |
Appl. No.: |
12/531751 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
March 18, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP08/53242 |
371 Date: |
December 7, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.1 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 5/02 20130101; B29C
70/74 20130101; B29K 2709/02 20130101; H05K 5/0243 20130101; Y10T
29/49826 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.1 ;
29/428 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00; H05K 5/02 20060101 H05K005/02; B23P 11/00 20060101
B23P011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 19, 2007 |
GB |
0705217.8 |
Claims
1. A casing wall for an apparatus, the casing wall comprising a
chassis and casing wall elements integrated into the chassis, the
casing wall elements each including a surface exposed to a user,
the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated casing wall
elements.
2. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is
operable to substantially prevent relative movement between the
integrated casing wall elements.
3. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the chassis is
operable to substantially retain the integrated casing wall
elements in predetermined positions.
4. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the casing wall
elements are integrated into the chassis at predetermined
positions.
5. (canceled)
6. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the casing wall
elements are interconnected.
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. A casing wall according to claim 6, wherein the interconnection
between the casing wall elements is provided at least partly by a
connecting element.
10. A casing wall according to claim 9, wherein the connecting
element interconnects the casing wall elements to locate the casing
wall elements at predetermined spaced positions.
11. A casing wall according to claim 9, wherein the connecting
element is separate from the casing wall elements.
12. A casing wall according to claim 11, wherein the connecting
element extends through apertures in the casing wall elements.
13. A casing wall according to claim 9, wherein the connecting
element is integral with the casing wall elements.
14. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the casing wall
elements comprise discrete wall elements integrated into the
chassis or wherein the casing wall elements are formed integrally
from a sheet of material.
15. (canceled)
16. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the casing wall
elements are at least partially embedded into the chassis to
integrate them into the chassis.
17. A casing wall according to claim 1, wherein the casing wall
elements include an integration region to facilitate integration
into the chassis.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. A portable electronic device including a casing wall according
to claim 1.
26. A method of forming a casing wall for an apparatus, the method
comprising integrating casing wall elements into a chassis such
that a surface of each integrated wall element is exposed to a
user, the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated
casing wall elements to provide structural rigidity to the casing
wall.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises at
least partially embedding the casing wall elements into the chassis
to integrate the casing wall elements into the chassis.
28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises
interconnecting the casing wall elements prior to integrating the
casing wall elements into the chassis.
29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the method comprises
providing a connecting element between the casing wall elements to
interconnect the casing wall elements.
30. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises
moulding the chassis around the casing wall elements to integrate
the casing wall elements into the chassis.
31. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method comprises
creating formations in the casing wall elements to facilitate
integration of the casing wall elements into the chassis.
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
34. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a casing wall
for an apparatus. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a
method of forming a casing wall for an apparatus.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] There is a continuing desire to provide apparatus, such as
personal electronic devices, which have improved aesthetic appeal.
One of the ways this has been achieved is by employing
non-conventional materials, such as precious materials, to
fabricate elements of such apparatus, for example casing walls.
[0003] Precious materials, such as glass and ceramic materials
including zirconia and alumina, are very durable and are thus
suitable for the fabrication of elements such as casing walls, and
it would be desirable to provide an improved casing wall for an
apparatus such as a personal communication device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a casing wall for an apparatus, the casing wall comprising
a chassis and casing wall elements integrated into the chassis, the
casing wall elements each including a surface exposed to a user,
the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated casing wall
elements.
[0005] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus including a casing wall, the casing wall
comprising a chassis and casing wall elements integrated into the
chassis, the casing wall elements each including a surface exposed
to a user, the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated
casing wall elements.
[0006] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a method of forming a casing wall for an apparatus, the
method comprising integrating casing wall elements into a chassis
such that a surface of each integrated casing wall element is
exposed to a user, the chassis defining a continuum between the
integrated casing wall elements.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a method comprising integrating casing wall elements into
a chassis such that a surface of each integrated casing wall
element is exposed to a user, the chassis defining a continuum
between the integrated casing wall elements.
[0008] In some embodiments, the continuum defined between the
integrated casing wall elements provides structural rigidity to the
casing wall and/or the casing wall elements.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a casing wall for an apparatus, the casing wall comprising
a chassis and casing wall elements integrated into the chassis, the
casing wall elements each including a surface exposed to a user,
the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated casing wall
elements to provide structural rigidity to the casing wall.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus including a casing wall, the casing wall
comprising a chassis and casing wall elements integrated into the
chassis, the casing wall elements each including a surface exposed
to a user, the chassis defining a continuum between the integrated
casing wall elements to provide structural rigidity to the casing
wall.
[0011] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a method of forming a casing wall for an apparatus, the
method comprising integrating casing wall elements into a chassis
such that a surface of each integrated casing wall element is
exposed to a user, the chassis defining a continuum between the
integrated casing wall elements to provide structural rigidity to
the casing wall.
[0012] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a method comprising integrating casing wall elements into
a chassis such that a surface of each integrated casing wall
element is exposed to a user, the chassis defining a continuum
between the integrated casing wall elements to provide structural
rigidity to the casing wall elements.
[0013] Embodiments of the invention also provide a portable
electronic device including a casing wall as defined above. The
portable electronic device may be a portable communication
device.
[0014] The chassis may act as a matrix into which the casing wall
elements may be integrated. Integration of the casing wall elements
may be achieved by embedding the casing wall elements into the
chassis. Integration of the casing wall elements may be achieved by
setting the casing wall elements into the chassis. The chassis may
provide a substrate for the casing wall elements. The continuum
provided by the chassis may consolidate the casing wall elements.
The chassis and consolidated casing wall elements may thus form a
coherent casing wall. The chassis may at least partly interconnect
the casing wall elements and may retain the casing wall elements in
predetermined positions relative to each other.
[0015] The chassis may comprise a material which enables the casing
wall elements to be firmly integrated into the chassis and securely
retained in position. The material may have the ability to flex and
may thus permit limited relative movement between the casing wall
elements. The material may be a resilient material such as a
plastics material. The material from which the chassis is formed
may be a cured resinous material. The ability of the chassis to
flex and allow limited relative movement between the integrated
casing wall elements may provide the casing wall with the ability
to absorb impacts with no or minimal damage to the casing wall
elements.
[0016] The casing wall elements may each be formed from precious
material. The term `precious material` as used herein includes
ceramic materials such as zirconia and alumina, glass, metals such
as gold, silver or platinum, and precious or semi-precious stones,
such as diamond, sapphire or ruby.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of
example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an
apparatus;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a casing wall for an
apparatus;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view along the line
A-A of FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment
of part of a casing wall for an apparatus;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of another embodiment of
part of a casing wall for an apparatus;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another
embodiment of part of a casing wall for an apparatus; and
[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of part of a casing wall
for an apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The figures illustrate a casing wall 10 for an apparatus 12,
the casing wall 10 comprising a chassis 14 and casing wall elements
16 integrated into the chassis 14, the casing wall elements 16 each
including a surface 18 exposed to a user, the chassis 14 defining a
continuum 19 between the integrated casing wall elements 16 to
provide structural rigidity to the casing wall 10.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus 12.
The apparatus 12 may be a hand portable electronic device and may
be a portable communication device, personal music player, personal
digital assistant, etc. In the following embodiment, the apparatus
12 will be referred to as a `portable communication device`. The
portable communication device includes a casing wall 10 which forms
part of a casing 20 housing an operating engine 22 of the device.
The portable communication device includes a user input interface
24 comprising a plurality of user input keys 26, a display 28, a
microphone 30 and a speaker 32. The portable communication device
operates in a conventional manner which will be apparent to the
skilled person.
[0027] As indicated above, the casing wall 10 comprises a chassis
14 and casing wall elements 16 integrated into the chassis 14. The
casing wall elements 16 are each formed from a precious material,
for example a ceramic material such as zirconia or alumina. The use
of precious material is desirable since precious materials, such as
zirconia and alumina, are hard and therefore durable materials
which do not easily wear and which at the same time have a highly
desirable aesthetic appearance.
[0028] In order to minimise the weight of the casing wall 10, and
hence of an apparatus 12 including a casing 20 which may be formed
by one or more of the casing walls 10, the thickness of the casing
wall elements 16 is minimised. This reduces the structural rigidity
of the casing wall elements 16 and makes them more brittle.
Integration of the casing wall elements 16 into the chassis 14
provides the integrated casing wall elements 16, and the resulting
casing wall 10, with structural rigidity.
[0029] The chassis 14 acts as a matrix into which the casing wall
elements 16 are integrated and provides a substrate for the casing
wall elements 16. The chassis 14 provides a continuum 19 between
the casing wall elements 16 and consolidates the casing wall
elements 16 into a coherent casing wall 10. The chassis 14 at least
partly interconnects the casing wall elements 16 and retains the
casing wall elements 16 in predetermined positions relative to each
other.
[0030] The chassis 14 comprises a material which enables the casing
wall elements 16 to be firmly integrated into the chassis 14 and
securely retained in position, yet which allows some flexing and
slight relative movement between the casing wall elements 16 whilst
providing the integrated casing wall elements 16 with the requisite
structural rigidity. The ability of the chassis 14 to flex and
allow some relative movement between the integrated casing wall
elements 16 may provide the casing wall 10 with the ability to
absorb impacts without any damage occurring to the casing wall
elements 16 themselves.
[0031] The casing wall elements 16 are integrated into the chassis
14 at predetermined, possibly spaced, positions which may lie on a
plane. Where the exposed surfaces 18 of the casing wall elements 16
are generally planar, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and
7, the casing wall elements 16 may be integrated into the chassis
14 such that those exposed surfaces 18 are substantially
coplanar.
[0032] The casing wall elements 16 are at least partially embedded
into the chassis 14 to integrate them into the chassis 14.
Integration of the casing wall elements 16 into the chassis 14 may
be achieved by forming the chassis 14 around the casing wall
elements 16. For example, the material from which the chassis 14 is
formed may be a resinous material, and the casing wall elements 16
may be located, for example at least partially embedded, in uncured
resinous material which may then be cured to form the chassis 14,
the casing wall elements 16 being integrated into the chassis
during curing of the resinous material to form the chassis 14.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, in embodiments of the invention,
the casing wall elements 16 may be discrete or separate elements
and may be at least partly interconnected by connecting elements 34
as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. One or more of the connecting elements
34 may be used to interconnect the casing wall elements 16 before
the casing wall elements 16 are integrated into the chassis 14 to
form the casing wall 10. The connecting elements 34 may be operable
to maintain the casing wall elements 16 in a predetermined spaced
relationship which may facilitate integration of the casing wall
elements 16 into the chassis 14, for example by facilitating
positioning of the casing wall elements 16 in the uncured resinous
material from which the chassis 14 is to be formed by curing the
material.
[0034] In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5, the connecting elements
34 extend through apertures 36 in the casing wall elements 16 and
thus act to interconnect the casing wall elements 16, for example
by stringing them together. In embodiments of the invention, the
connecting elements 34 are in the form of threads 38 or thread-like
elements which may be formed of any suitable material.
[0035] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, each casing wall element 16
includes two apertures 36, each adapted to receive a separate
connecting element 34 for connecting each casing wall element 16 to
adjacent casing wall elements 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, each
casing wall element 16 includes a single aperture 36 adapted to
receive at least two connecting elements 34 for connecting each
casing wall element 16 to adjacent casing wall elements 16.
[0036] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the casing wall elements 16 are
formed from a sheet 40 of material in which channels 42 are formed.
The casing wall elements 16 are thus integral with the sheet 40 of
material and the connecting elements 34 interconnecting the casing
wall elements 16 are provided by the material of the sheet 40 which
extends across the channels 42 between adjacent casing wall
elements 16. The sheet 40 of material can be considered to define a
continuous substrate 41 with the casing wall elements 16 being
integral with and extending from the substrate 41.
[0037] Interconnection of the casing wall elements 16 by the
connecting elements 34, as illustrated in the embodiments of FIGS.
4 to 6, does not provide the casing wall elements 16 with
sufficient structural rigidity to form a casing wall 10 for an
apparatus 12. As indicated above, it is the chassis 14 into which
the casing wall elements 16 are integrated and the continuum 19
provided by the chassis 14 that provide the casing wall elements 12
and the casing wall 10 with structural rigidity.
[0038] The casing wall elements 16 are spaced apart at
predetermined positions and are embedded into the chassis 14 such
that the chassis 14 at least partly envelops the casing wall
elements 14 and fills voids 44 that may be present between the
casing wall elements 16. The material of the chassis 14 is provided
below the casing wall elements 16 and between the casing wall
elements 16 to define the continuum 19. In the embodiment of FIG.
6, the material of the chassis 14 is provided in the channels 42
above the continuous substrate 41. Thus, if cracks 60 appear in the
substrate 41 after integration into the chassis 14, the structural
rigidity of the casing wall 10 is maintained by the chassis 14.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, in embodiments of the invention, a
casing wall element 16 may include a first region 50 including the
exposed surface 18 and a second region 52, or integration region,
which is more compatible with the material from which the chassis
14 is formed to facilitate integration of the casing wall element
16 into the chassis 14, for example by providing an enhanced
interlock between the casing wall element 16 and the chassis 14.
For example, the porosity of the second region 52 may be greater
than the porosity of the first region 50. Accordingly, uncured
resinous material from which the chassis 14 may be formed may
permeate into the second region 52 before it is cured such that
when the resinous material is cured to form the chassis 14, an
improved interlock is created between the casing wall element 16
and the chassis 14.
[0040] Alternatively or in addition, the second region 52 may
include formations 48, for example regular or irregular formations
48 which may be created by deforming the second region 52, into
which uncured resinous material from which the chassis 14 is formed
may flow such that when the material is cured to form the chassis
14, an improved interlock or mechanically `keyed` zone is created
between the casing wall element 16 and the chassis 14.
[0041] In some embodiments of the invention, an adherent 54
(illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 by a broken line), which
has an affinity to adhere to the material of the casing wall
elements 16 and the material of the chassis 14, may be provided at
an interface 56 between the casing wall elements 16 and the chassis
14 to facilitate integration of the casing wall elements 16 into
the chassis 14.
[0042] Due to the spacing between the exposed surfaces 18 of the
casing wall elements 16, the exposed surfaces 18 may define a
discontinuous wall surface with the continuum 19 provided by the
chassis 14 providing the appearance of a filler between the casing
wall elements 16. The casing wall 10 may thus have a mosaic
appearance, as best seen in FIG. 2, which may be aesthetically
appealing to a user of the apparatus 12.
[0043] During formation of the casing wall 10, it is possible that
resinous material from which the chassis 14 is formed may be
present on the exposed surfaces 18 of the casing wall elements 16.
In this situation, the material may be removed after curing, for
example by polishing or a similar operation, thus ensuring that the
exposed surfaces 18 of the casing wall elements 16 of the casing
wall 10 are visible to a user of an apparatus 12 including the
casing wall 10.
[0044] As indicated above, the casing wall 10 may be formed by
locating the casing wall elements 16 in uncured resinous material
and curing the resinous material to provide a chassis 14 into which
the casing wall elements 16 are integrated, and any suitable
technique may be employed to for this purpose. For example, uncured
resinous material may be poured over the casing wall elements 16
and cured to form the chassis 14. The casing wall elements 16 could
be located in a chamber into which uncured resinous material may be
introduced for subsequent curing to form the chassis 14. In this
case, the uncured resinous material could be forced into the
chamber under pressure or drawn into the chamber using a vacuum.
Injection moulding, compression moulding, or other similar
techniques which will be apparent to those skilled in the art,
could be employed to form the casing wall 10.
[0045] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in
the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it
should be appreciated that various modifications to the examples
given may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention, as claimed.
[0046] For example, the casing wall elements 16 may be formed of a
material other than a precious material. Where the casing wall
elements 16 are formed of a precious material, the precious
material may be a material other than a ceramic material. For
example, the precious material may be precious stones such as
sapphire or diamond, or may be glass. The casing wall elements 16
may be integrated into the chassis 14 as discrete elements, the
interconnection between the casing wall elements 16 being provided
solely by the chassis 14.
[0047] The casing wall elements 16 may be integrated into the
chassis 14 in a randomly spaced manner or according to a defined
geometric pattern. The casing wall elements 16 may each be of equal
or differing size, may be of the same or different shapes, may be
of the same or different colours, may be polished and/or textured
to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the casing wall 10. In
embodiments where the casing wall elements 16 are of the same
colour, the material from which the chassis 14 is formed may also
be coloured to match the colour of the casing wall elements 16.
[0048] Location and/or attachment and/or retention features may be
incorporated into the chassis 14 during curing of the resinous
material and/or after the resinous material has been cured to form
the chassis 14.
[0049] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw
attention to those features of the invention believed to be of
particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant
claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or
combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in
the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed
thereon.
* * * * *